MOTHERS AND WIVES OF SOLDIERS OF WORLD WAR I IN SOCIAL CONFLICTS IN SIMBIRSK GOVERNORATE

The article describes social life in the Russian Empire during World War I. The author tells about mothers and wives of soldiers ("soldatki") in Simbirsk Governorate, their participation in riots ("pogroms") and social conflicts. The purpose of the article is determination of status of local soldatki, motives and results of their social protests. The article is focused on a period from summer of 1914-to February 1917 and the territory of Simbirsk Governorate. The article is based on sources of Ulyanovsk state archive (GAUO) such as documents of Simbirsk governor's office, Simbirsk provincial gendarme office, Simbirsk district court and the local press of 1914-1917. The author shows the role of such factors as poverty and difficulty of aid delivery, high prices and shortage of subsistence goods, long period of the war and the old struggle between two social groups of peasants. Also the article demonstrates the growth of the role of some men staying in the rear and rumors for the mind of soldatki. The situation became worse with disregard of authorities to social problems, primitive methods of regulation of social relationships and cruel judgment to women. Despite the hate to officials, police and tradesmen the protests of soldatki of Simbirsk Governorate never became political.